Massachusetts House lawmakers vote 151-3 on bump stock ban

MA lawmakers are working quickly to pass legislation that would ban bump stocks, a device found on 12 weapons the Las Vegas shooting shooter had.

The legislation prohibits any modification to a firearm created to increase the rate of firing bullets.

There was no debate or public hearings on the measure, sponsored by Democrat Rep. David Linsky.

"These devices have one objective, and one goal only - to kill and to wound as many people as possible in a short period of time", said Linsky in a statement. But two GOP lawmakers have legislation before the state Senate to expand the MA ban on machine guns to include bump stocks.

Similar legislation is underway at the state level in Illinois, Ohio, and Washington while at least three federal bills have been filed on Capitol Hill. Offenders could face life in prison. Fifty-nine people were killed and more than 500 wounded.

The House voted Wednesday 151-3 in favor of legislation to ban bump stocks, such as those used by the Las Vegas shooter. Paddock took his own life as police closed in on him.

"I think that it's most important that we take it up and that we take it up immediately and that again, we show that MA is the number one country in the state when it comes to battling gun violence", said House Speaker Robert DeLeo.

Bump stocks replace the traditional rifle stock and pistol grip, causing the gun's trigger to recoil more rapidly, firing bullets at the rate of some 800 rounds per minute. Republicans have traditionally resisted limits on guns and gun accessories.

Other members of the House's Republican caucus - including state Rep. Geoff Diehl of Whitman, who is looking to challenge US Sen.

The National Rifle Association has said bump stocks should be "subject to additional regulations" but has stopped short of calling on Congress to ban them.